Potato digger chain



March 7', 1939. A, T'. KN'ol-:RZER

PQTATO BIGGER CHAIN Filed oct. e, 1957 Patented Mar. 7, 1939 -UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE POTATO BIGGER C'HAIN Arthur T. Knoerzer, Hammond, Ind., assignor to Champion Corporation, Hammond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application October 8, 1937, Serial No. 167,955 sclaims. (c1. 19e-189) This invention relates to potato digger chains.

As is well known, many standard potato diggers which expedient is rather expensive and it is difiicult to slip the tubing on the rods.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide cushioning means for each link of the chain which may be readily attached thereto and removed therefrom. Another object is to provide the cushioning means with a resilient metal, rodclasping member, which vmay be sprung over the cross rod of a link to fasten the cushioning means in place thereon. Another object is to provide means whereby the cushioning member is prevented from turning around the cross rod of the link.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

One embodiment of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of three potato digger links oi a potato digger chain, partly broken away, and equipped with the present cushioning means.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the links partly broken away with part of the cushioning means shown in vertical, longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a detail, vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail, vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawing, the reference characters 5 designate three links of a potato digger chain of common and well known construction. Each link is composed of a cross rod 6 formed at its ends with laterally extending hook mem-V bers l, the hook members of the several links being linked together as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Adjacent the hook members l, the cross rods of the links are offset, the alternate ones being oliset upwards and the intermediate ones being' offset downwards so as to provide pockets in which the potatoes may lie while being conveyed from the front to the rear of the machine. The

offset parts 8 of the links join the end parts by the oblique parts 8a. potato diggers is common and well known and requires no further description so far as this specification is concerned.

The cushioning means for the links are shown at 9 and comprise rubber or other elastic strips It, desirably crescent shaped in cross section with the concave sides vulcanized of the conveX sides of spring metal or other resilient, rod clasping members Il, or otherwise suitably fastened thereto. The rod clasping members are cylindrical, with -their lower portions out away and are made of the same internal diameter as the diameter of the rods so thatthe cushioning members may be readily attached thereto by springing the resilient rod clasping members upon the rods with the cushion strips disposed at the upper side of the rods, that is, when they pass through the digger.

The end portions of the cushioning members are bent laterally with respect to the middle portions thereof, as is shown at l2 in Fig. k2. The purpose of this is to enable the cushioning members to conform to the offsets in the cross rods and also to prevent the cushioning members from turning upon the rods. y

Those cushioning members intended for use on the upwardly oiset rods are bent downwards at their ends to conform to the oblique parts of the rods and the ends of the intermediate cushioning members are bent upward to conform to the oblique parts of the downwardly offset rods.

To prevent any possibility of disconnection be- This link construction for tween the cushioning members and cross rods,

split rings or other tying means I3 encircle the rods and cushioning members, desirably at places adjacent the extremities of the cushioning members. Y

From the above it will be understood that potato digger chains equipped with cushioning members embodying the present invention are not likely to scuff up or otherwise injure the potatoes while being conveyed through the potato digger. If a link in the chain becomes broken or worn out, as is often the case,.it may be removed and replaced with a whole one and the cushioning member may be detached from the broken link and attached to the new one. The cushioning member is very likely to outlast the link upon which it is used and may be used over again on a new link.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A potato digger chain link having a link hook at each end and oiset laterally between the hooks, the ends of the oiset portion extending transversely thereof to the end portions of the link, in combination with a cushioning member comprising an elastic strip and a tubular, resili-k ent-metal, rod-clasping member fastened to one side thereof and formed with a slot extending lengthwise thereofY along the side opposite ythe cushioning member, said rod-clasping member having transversely extending end portions disposed parallel with the transversely extending portions of the link, and said rod-clasping member clasping the offset portion and the transversely extending portions of the link, whereby the rotation of the rod-clasping member on the link is prevented.

2. A potato digger chain link having a link hook at each end and offset laterally between the hooks, the ends of the offset portion extending obliquely to the end portions of the link, in combination with a cushioning member comprising an elastic member and tubular, resilient-metal, rod-clasping means vulcanized to one side thereof and formed with a slot extending lengthwise thereof along the side opposite the elastic member, said rod-clasping means having a part arranged to clasp the offset portion and oblique end parts arranged to clasp the oblique portions of the link and split rings extending around the link and cushioning member. Y

3. A cushioning member for potato digger chain links, comprising an elastic strip and a cylindrical, resilient-metal rod-clasping member vulcanized to the strip and formed with an open lower side, whereby the rod clasping member may be sprung upon the link.

4. A cushioning member for potato digger chain links, comprising an elastic strip of crescent shape in cross section, and a cylindrical, resilient-metal rod-clasping member formed with a slot in its side whereby it may be sprung upon a link, the concave side of the elastic strip being vulcanized to the convex side of the rod-clasping member opposite the slot therein.

5. A cushioning member for potato digger chain links, comprising an elastic strip of crescent shape in cross section, and a cylindrical, resilient-metal rod-clasping member formed with a slot in its side whereby it may be sprung up on a link, the concave'side of the elastic strip being vulcanized to the convex side of the rod-clasping member `opposite the slot therein, the end portions of the cushioning member terminating in oblique portions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ARTHUR T. KNOERZER. 

